AMSTERDAM, N.Y. -- It's opening day at Barkley Elementary School. Students have been getting ready for weeks. Not just for the start of class, but to cut the ribbon on their own micro society.
"A micro society is a microcosm of the real world," Superintendent Thomas Perillo said. "This building will include a government, banks, school, any other types of things to prepare students for the real world."
The students will be the workers, the lawmakers, the shopkeepers, even run their own school district. It’s all part of a program during their regular school week. Their work will earn them micro society dollars that they'll use at the school market.
Students at one Amsterdam elementary school are getting a real world education that even includes a paycheck. Our Mark Repasky explains.
"We're going to be getting money and going to places to find stuff, buy stuff with it," first grader Marlena Welsher said.
Since this is all about the real world, everything is as real as can be. During a trial run last year, Laura Littrell was a banker. What did she do?
"Collected taxes, sorted money," Littrell said.
With Barkley now open as a micro society school and Tecler Elementary School opening as a music and arts school, the Greater Amsterdam School District has completed its goal of turning all four elementary schools into magnet schools.
"The families have a choice as to what interests their kids have and have some choices now among all the schools," Jim Phelps, a Barkley parent said.
"That's really going to prepare our students for the upper levels in the district," Perillo said.
With lessons aimed at lasting a lifetime.